The dinner guests had arrived. The only person missing was the youngest son of the host family. Jack Richards asked his oldest son Dominic to look for Sam.
Dominic searched the whole house, grumbling all the way. He was disgruntled. Not only liked he structure and order, but Sam was crossing his plans - again. Only six weeks earlier Dominic had caught Sam under his writing desk to spy on him and his girl friend.
Dominic's brother was a nuisance and unpredictable.
Where was the little bastard? Dominic had better things to do than chase after his baby brother, who was nine. Dominic was eighteen and wanted to spend time with the other adults. Jack Richards had invited the Jackson's, a wealthy couple, who had shown interest in Jack's work - he was a painter - and might were giving a huge commission. They wanted to know more about the artist and meet his family. Dominic was desperate to speak to Damian, the Jackson's son. He was a few years older than Dominic and studied Business at Sanford-Brown College. Dominic was starting in autumn at the University of Washington, Seattle and wanted some advice.
Returning without a result, he checked with his sister Brooke in the kitchen. She had turned seventeen just a week after Dominic's birthday and knew Sam best. "Look in the garden behind the den. It's one of Sam's favorite hiding places." "Thanks, Brooke."
Sam was as predicted hidden behind the den. When Dominic saw, what Sam had done, he would have loved to smack Sam. Because Dominic knew his parents would kill him, if he did, he kept his temper under check. Sam was munching on a cake. To be precise it was the dessert, which should have been served after dinner, and Brooke had lavished for hours on it. Instead of cutting a piece of the Imperial Torte, Sam had taken the whole cake, crammed as much as he could into his mouth and nibbled around the edges. He had destroyed most of the cake; some large pieces had fallen to the ground. Sam's hands, face and his best shirt and trousers were smeared with cream and crumbs. An empty bottle of coke and an open notebook were lying on the ground. Dominic recognized Brooke's handwriting. "You!" Sam looked guilty, when he saw Dominic's angry face. "Where are your manners?" Dominic thundered. "And look what you have done with your clothing! Mom is going to be very upset about it. Can you imagine what impression you give to our guests? You have probably ruined Dad's business deal. How did you end up with Brooke's diary? Tell me! Did you steal it from her room? You know other people's rooms are off limits! What do you think she is going to say about you reading her private thoughts? Oh, what should I do with you?!" "Please don't tell Mom and Dad." "I don't have a choice. They need to know you ruined the dessert. We have to think about something else. And I don't know about your clothing. I'm not sure, if we ever get it clean again. Oh, you're such a menace! Why weren't you named Dennis?! Come now!" Dominic didn't dare to touch Sam. He feared he was going to ruin his own clothing. Sam didn't follow immediately, so Dominic was shouting: "Go on." Sam gave in and trotted behind his brother. Dominic brought Sam to the kitchen. "Explain, what you have done, while I'm going to check with Dad." With hanging head Sam admitted he had taken the cake and eaten it, because he wanted a "snack" for his reading material, Brooke's diary. Brooke was very disappointed, but tried to maintain composure. "Do you know how much work the Imperial Torte made?" Sam shook his head. At that moment Jack Richards entered. "What have you done, little rascal?" Jack took in Sam's appearance and listened to Sam's story. He had a hard time not to laugh. When he was Sam's age, he had been up to as much mischief as his son was. He had been more discreet, though, when he leafed through his three year older sister's diary and never been caught.
"Why did you take Brooke's diary in the first place? It's not nice to read private stuff of other people." "I... I wanted to understand Brooke better. She had left it on the table on the terrace, so I didn't go into Brooke's room." "How great!" Dominic said sarcastic. He believed Sam had been simply nosy. Jack gave Sam a piercing stare. "Are you telling me the truth?" Sam nodded. "What about the coke. We have told you clearly you are too young for caffeine. It contains too much sugar too. It's unhealthy, and we only had it here for our guests. Besides drinking what was for our guests, you also took the Imperial Torte. You aren't allowed sweets during the day. You know that well, because we explained to you how important a balanced diet is. By eating the cake you have spoiled your appetite for dinner. It's also not okay the way you ate. You use cutlery regular, so why didn't you cut a piece and ate it with a fork or a spoon? It would have preserved the cake for the rest of us and your clothing from stains." Sam didn't have a good explanation, but he had thought it was less suspicious, if he sneaked out the whole cake instead of taking cutlery and a plate, when going into the garden.
"Believe me, we aren't exactly poor, but clothing doesn't grow on trees. Should the stains not go out, we can't afford to buy you a new shirt and pants. We have other obligations, like saving for your and your sibling’s education, paying the mortgage and allowing Brooke to go on gap year travel after she has graduated. So if we can't clean it, you have to wear hand me downs from Maxwell." Sam didn't like that. He prayed it would wash out. Maxwell and he didn't have the best of relationships. Sam could imagine how much teasing he would receive from his brother. Sam also knew he wasn't going to escape punishment. "Okay, Samuel, I suggest, you and Dominic get you cleaned up and into something suitable for meeting our guests. It will be only a short appearance, Mom is going to bring you to bed immediately afterwards. Brooke and I are going to sort out the dessert. We are talking about your punishment as well, but first get our problems sorted."
"Brooke, I'm sorry I read your diary and about the cake." "Alright. There is nothing secret in it anyway. I'm sure Dad and I find a solution what to serve the Jackson's." Brooke had two diaries, one kept for her daily life and thoughts and one to create recipes and brainstorm or make plans for the future. Sam read the latter. Brooke was going to be more careful with her personal belongings in the future.
Dominic was quiet. He hoped Sam would be grounded for the next two weeks. Sam was hanging after his own thoughts. Mom and Dad were guaranteed coming up with something unpleasant. He hoped his parents wouldn't take away his play, he was working on.
Arriving on the room, Dominic asked Sam to get rid of his soiled clothing. "I should throw you fully clothed under the running shower!" Dominic threatened. He picked up the garments disgusted and brought them to the basement, where the washing machine and the laundry were kept. It would be sorted out later. In the meantime Sam had scrubbed himself clean. Dominic was searching for a formal pant and a shirt. Each family member had two sets, but both of Sam's were now in the dirty laundry. Dominic found a pant and a polo shirt. Sam looked upscale and presentable and hopefully would do.
In the mean time Madeleine Richards, her husband Jack and Brooke were conferring what to serve. In the end they agreed on vanilla ice cream with hot cherries. It was simple, tasted good and could be prepared elegant.
Sam and Dominic returned to the kitchen. Madeleine commented to the outfit: "Not too bad." Jack told Sam: "I find it good you apologized to Brooke. Now to your punishment. You have broken quite a few rules. Is it in your opinion fair, when you go to bed with Ava and Mac for the next week?" Sam thought it was fair. It was something he definitely didn't like at all. It made him feel like a baby, when he had to go to bed at the same time as his sisters. "Is Mom still reading to me?" Sam was worried. Madeleine was a very busy executive and had rarely time for the kids, so it was a highlight for Sam, when she brought him to bed twice a week, reading him a good night story. "Of course I will, darling." Mac and Ava were four and three respectively. They went to bed at 7 PM, Sam normally and hour later.
Dominic snorted, when he heard Sam got away easy.
Sam was quickly introduced to the Jackson's. They found him cute and were surprised he wasn't going to have dinner with them. Madeleine Richards said Sam had eaten earlier. She didn't dare saying Sam was tired. He would probably reply, no he wasn't, so Madeleine went for a half truth.
She brought Sam to bed a few minutes later.
Mrs. Jackson was delighted with the dessert. "Oh, have you asked our chef for my preferences? First the excellent turkey and such lovely salad and now my favorite dessert! I'm impressed." Brooke was happy with the compliments, especially when Mr. Jackson predicted an outstanding career as chef for her. The Richards' hadn't checked with the Jackson's chef.
In the end all went well and Jack received the commission to paint a whole series for Mr. Jackson's private collection as well as his company.
Sam felt pretty bad about reading Brooke's diary, and when Jack went shopping, Sam came with him. He bought a present for Brooke.
Jack was impressed how thoughtful Sam was. He helped his son choose a wrapping paper. Later Jack gave a hand to wrap the gift.
"Brooke, can I come in?" Sam was hiding his hands behind his back and asked eagerly after having knocked and opened the door without waiting for a reply. Brooke smiled. She love Sam dearly and had forgiven his latest escapade. He was different than Dominic or Maxwell.
Dominic was boring, and Maxwell complicated, difficult to please and too preachy. With Sam you never knew what was going to happen. Still Brooke was diplomatic enough to maintain good relations with all her siblings. "When you have already entered, why not?" She replied to Sam's request. "Choose a hand." Sam said. Brooke indicated the left, because it was the one her brother did everything with. She had guessed correctly. "How sweet of you! Thank you very much, Sam. You shouldn't have, though." "I love you, Brooke, and I wanted to give you something to make up." Unwrapping the present impatiently, Brooke was delighted, when she found a diary she could lock and a ring binder to write down her recipes. Sam had spent his monthly pocket money on her. It touched Brooke.
As predicted Maxwell was teasing Sam, because Sam's shirt was ruined. At least the pants had been salvaged. Sam took the teasing outward with humor, but inward he was angry.
The End.
©2011
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